Election Day 2016 has come and gone, and in the marquee presidential race the Republican nominee came out on top. With several races still outstanding, it appears that Republicans will also maintain their majorities in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. When the 115th Congress convenes in January, Republicans will continue to set the education policy agenda, but their narrow majority in the Senate will still require Democratic support to pass any new legislation. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who ran as the Democrat nominee for vice president, is expected to return to the Senate and continue his role as co-chair of the Senate CTE Caucus.
For his part, Donald Trump has given little indication as to what education priorities will drive his Administration. He has stated that he will get rid of the Common Core State Standards (which are common academic standards adopted by states) and will eliminate gun-free school zones. He has also noted that he would like to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education or at least “downsize it” significantly. In previous statements, he has expressed support for establishing “centers of excellence” that may incorporate CTE, though he provided no additional details on how his Administration would implement such an initiative. "Vocational training is a great thing. We don't do it anymore," Trump said using the outdated term for CTE at a campaign event in November. “We’d have people [in college] who were brilliant, and we’d have other people who weren’t as brilliant in that way but were brilliant, incredible, when it came to fixing a motor, fixing something.”
Of course secondary and postsecondary CTE programs are available nationwide—preparing students for careers in broad range of in-demand fields, not only the skilled trades. ACTE will work to educate new policymakers on the importance of CTE in equipping students with employability, technical and academic skill they will need for career success. Follow us on the CTE Policy Watch Blog for more election updates.
This is great news that Senator Tim Kaine is continuing his role as co-chair of the Senate CTE Caucus. It is important that we have the house and senate's support in Career and Technical Education. Kaine made an impact on the Every Student Succeeds Act, with respect to CTE. He introduced an amendment that would designate CTE as a "core subject."
Trumps current vision on education, as noted on donaldtrump.com is to "ensure that the opportunity to attend a two or four-year college, or to pursue a trade or a skill set through vocational and technical education, will be easier to access, pay for, and finish." This provides for an equality of opportunity.
Trump also proposed a $20 billion federal plan to dramatically expand school choice for low-income students. His plan would allow students to use federal funds to help them attend private, charter, magnet, and traditional public schools of their choice. Will this promote quality education?
Our biggest hope, in regards to support from President Trump, is that he builds a relationship with Congress to form strong education policies. Congress has been actively pushing legislation through, particularly with laws related to CTE. Recently, the House of Representatives approved reauthorizations of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. “The Education and The Workforce Committee,” also talks about the recent K-12 education reform that was introduced, “the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act.” This will help young Americans enter the workforce with the needed skills and knowledge. These legislations, help further diversity and equity in education. The Perkins Act helps special populations, including individuals with disabilities and individuals from economically disadvantaged families to enroll and complete CTE programs, preparing them for high-skill and high-wage employment. With all of the recent positive attention to CTE, we can only hope that the trump administration jumps on board to further push CTE and diversity in the right direction.
Posted by: Tara Shadduck | 11/15/2016 at 07:39 PM